It’s shaping up to be a very Bluey Christmas.
This year, the popular Australian kids’ cartoon debuted Verandah Santa, the first original Bluey Christmas EP from series composer Joff Bush, which includes a festive rendition of the show’s opening track. “We had heaps of fun adding to the original extended theme from the first album with snippets from other tracks like ‘Instrument Parade’ and some references to ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Joy to the World’ – and of course adding some fun percussion and other Christmassy flair!” Bush said of the treatment.
The four-song release also features “Let’s Play Verandah Santa” (“This is a truly great representation of an Australian Christmas! It was created using score from the original episode to make sure when you listen to this track you can feel like you’re back in the episode and playing along with Bluey and her family!” Bush explained), “Verandah Santa” (a twist on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker), and “I Don’t Have a Chimney” featuring Emma Dean (“We found ourselves writing the lyrics in the style of Emma’s young Santa-obsessed kids – resulting in many guffaws and grins! We had so much fun writing and recording this EP together,” Bush added).
But it’s not just about Bluey music for Bush during the holidays. In honor of the lovable blue heeler and the season, Bush shares his Christmas playlist with Billboard, featuring everything from traditional carols, quirky tunes, standard hits and even a little Bob Dylan. “Here are some tunes I feel have that magic sauce,” Bush tells us.
Scroll below for the entire playlist and the reasoning behind his choices.
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“How to Make Gravy,” Paul Kelly
“This is an Aussie classic. Try not to join in singing at the top of your lungs with ‘GIVE MY LOVE TO ANGUS!’ Impossible.”
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“Must Be Santa,” Bob Dylan
“There’s something sweaty and messy and so fun about this track. It reminds me of Christmases in Meanjin (Brisbane) sharehouses in my 20s. Cheap wine and no air conditioning.”
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“I Don’t Have a Chimney,” Emma Dean and Joff Bush
“I had to throw some of my own work in here – I remember being in stitches writing this with Emma – lyrics from the perspective of her toddlers.”
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“Feliz Navidad,” Jose Feliciano
“Could this be the simplest, most catchiest tune ever written? Probably my favorite Christmas tune. It just makes me smile.”
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The Muppet Christmas Carol Original Soundtrack, Various Artists
“These songs really do feel like a Dickensian Christmas. Gorgeous melodies sung as all gorgeous melodies should be sung – by muppets.”
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“Carol of the Bells,” John Williams (trad.)
“I love singing this to cats with all the lyrics replaced with ‘meow’ so they too know it’s Christmas.”
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“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” Jimmy Boyd
“There’s something so charming and sweet about these gimmicky songs from the ’50s sung by actual kids.”
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